1964 Honda C92 - The revival

[HighSidedMedia]

Hello everyone! As a longtime lurker of the forum, I feel it's only right that I now create my own post about the relevant two-wheeled tat that I currently possess.

My most recent purchase was of a 1964 Honda C92. The bike was part of a private collection, before being traded in at my local classic specialist. After a late night eBay session, I stumbled across the bike. A message and px of my electric Yamaha Neos later, the bike arrived at my workshop.

Safe to say that the listing photos made the bike look a million times better than it actually was (as is always the case). Being listed as a "light winter project", it is safe to say that I was surprised when the rust equivalent of cornflakes dropped out of the frame - all over the workshop floor.

Since buying the bike, I haven't done much to it. Mainly searching for smaller parts which my bike is missing. The only thing that I have bought and fitted was a brand new, boxed honda ignition barrel for the bike.

Next on the list of jobs is a good clean, alongside sending the cylinder head off for work. A previous owner appears to have had no idea how to fit spark plugs - or any kind of thread for that matter, as the right plug is cross threaded beyond belief. If anyone knows a specialist around Warwickshire who could sort the spark plug issue out, as well as a rebuild of the head (as well as an unleaded conversion?) then please do let me know - it'll be appreciated!

[srob]

I wouldn't worry about converting to unleaded. I've never done that on any of my bikes and there's never been an issue after many thousands of miles!

[HighSidedMedia]

Out of interest - would using a fuel additive be a wise move? The head will still need a rebuild - but as you say, should be fine without.

The bike will mainly be a show bike, plus the occasional summers day ride to the local cafe!

I'll add some photos of the bike when I can, will be using this forum as a record of the restoration process.

[srob]

I've never used any additives.

When leaded was phased out years ago loads of people were changing valve seats and using additives. I was still a kid but my dad (who had a fleet of vintage bikes) said he'd just wait until the seats burn out if that's what will happen and change them then.

None of them ever have and we still use all the bikes now!

[HighSidedMedia]

That's reassuring! The plan at the minute is to get the head sent away, then get the bike running as is once it comes back. From that point, I'll then get it stripped down and sent off to the frame shop to sort the rust out.

[OutInTheShed]

I would be careful of rusty pressed steel frames.

I had a small 70s Suzuki which rusted out by the mid 80s.

Some of these frames were really quite light.
And unlike British bikes, not perpetually covered in oil.

[HighSidedMedia]

Yes I'm fairly concerned - main issue I instantly noticed was the incredibly lightly stamped vin - which has corroded and pitted to the point where it is barely legible. Will need to be re-stamped, which is another headache I didn't plan on having with the bike!

[Benni]

If UK parts dealers cannot supply , try the dutch :
https://www.cmsnl.com/honda-c92-cs92-benly-touring...

[HighSidedMedia]

Perfect, thanks for the help Benni! I've bought the odd bit from CMSNL for my Vf750 interceptor, didn't even think that they'd have bits for the C92. I'll upload some photos of the bike later, can then use the thread to keep track of progress.

Anybody aware of any decent frame restoration places? I feel comfortable in doing most of the work, but the frame definitely needs a specialist. Appears to have been tapped in the rear at some point - it is full of fibreglass!

[Twolane]

I’ve also got an old Honda, a slightly later SS125 reg 1970. I bought it in 1998 for £35 from the Cov evening telegraph classifieds. Lightly restored in back then to get it running ,then parked it until 2018 when it had a full resto.
From what I’ve read, any Honda since 1969 can run on unleaded, I always put E5 in mine anyway, for the limited mileage it did ,ran fine.
I’ve bought parts for mine from David Silver, CMSNL is a good source for part nos and availability.
As for the head repair,try Ad hoc engineering near Stratford.

[HighSidedMedia]

That's a brilliant looking bike, nothing beats a classic Honda in my opinion. Thanks very much for the recommendation, I'll check them out.

I think I'll take the head off the bike to see what condition it is in generally, then go from there. My main worry with the damaged plug thread is that small fragments of metal have fallen into the engine. I think I'll do a good few oil flushes before anything else.

[daqinggregg]

HighSidedMedia said:

That's a brilliant looking bike, nothing beats a classic Honda in my opinion. Thanks very much for the recommendation, I'll check them out.

I think I'll take the head off the bike to see what condition it is in generally, then go from there. My main worry with the damaged plug thread is that small fragments of metal have fallen into the engine. I think I'll do a good few oil flushes before anything else.

Although not a biker, I love the aesthetics and engineering side of bikes.

I did an internet search of Honda C92, which was accompanied by an audible oooh, followed by that’s nice

Any chance, you’re going to do a restoration thread?

[HighSidedMedia]

I think that'll be the plan. It'll be a way to keep track of the bits that the bike needs doing to it - which will no doubt be an awful lot! I'll try and get some photos uploaded later of the bike as it sits in the workshop.

My biggest fear is still the vin issue. I have the headstock number clearly visible. Hopefully the vin is just C92 followed by the headstock numbers. I have tried contacting DVLA to see - no real help, but I'll try again soon.